Berry Lovers Can Grow Their Own Juicy Fruits

REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS - PLANT LIFE

October 2, 1999|By Eleanor Foerste

It's no wonder strawberries are grown by Sunshine State gardeners. In addition to their taste and attractive appearance, they're well suited to Florida conditions.

Even though their multimillion-dollar commercial production is limited to just a few areas, they are grown by hobbyists throughout our state. If you haven't tried these gems, here are a few helpful tips for raising them in your backyard garden.

In Florida, strawberries are grown as annuals. Jim Stephens, University of Florida vegetable gardening specialist, recommends planting from now until mid-November in Central Florida. When winter comes, the cool nights and short days cause the plants to begin flowering. Flowers formed after the last killing frost of early spring will develop into fruit. If we have a mild winter, fruiting may begin as early as January.

Berry production and harvest continue throughout the spring. As the winter gets warmer and the days grow longer, the plants will stop producing berries and form runners. These runners will take root and become new plants. In Northern states, the plants are left to grow year after year.

However, commercial growers and most home gardeners in Florida destroy all the plants and start over again in the fall. Nematodes and summer rains, which encourage leaf diseases, often result in poor growth.

Although strawberries can be grown in just about any type of Florida soil, they don't do as well in peat or muck. Strawberries grow best in well-drained soil that is moist but not wet. So, our sandy soil with plenty of added organic matter is best.

It is important to plant strawberry varieties that have proved themselves under Florida conditions. Old favorites include Dover and Florida Belle. They yield large fruit and are resistant to anthracnose disease. Other varieties well-adapted to Florida are Florida 90 and Tioga. Many commercial growers like the new variety ``Sweet Charlie.''

Start with disease-free plants. Keep the plants moist before planting, and plant them in moist soil. You get the best results if plants have not been held very long in the nursery and you plant them soon after purchase. Find out what day they are delivered to your farm store or garden center, and get them while they are freshest for best transplanting.

Strawberries can be gown in a variety of ways. A popular method is to use raised planting beds that are two feet wide and spaced two feet apart. The beds should be mounded so they are six inches high along the edges and about 8 inches high in the middle.

For a 10-by-10-foot strawberry patch, 100 square feet of bed, broadcast about 21/2 pounds of garden fertilizer over the bed area and mix it into the soil. Form the raised beds and apply additional fertilizer, about 21/2 pounds, in narrow bands about six inches deep in the center of each row.

After the beds are formed, fertilized and watered well, cover each bed with 11/2-millimeter thickness black plastic as mulch. Anchor the edges of the plastic in place with soil. Then cut slits in the plastic where the plants are to be inserted. Set the plants in double rows, spaced about 12 inches apart so they are not planted directly over the band of fertilizer. Pine straw or leaf mulch are alternatives to plastic mulch.

Strawberries can be grown in pots. Wash old pots with soapy water before re-using. Use fresh, clean, unbroken bags of commercial potting soil. Hanging baskets and strawberry jars are also popular containers for growing strawberries. Be sure there are holes in containers for adequate drainange.

A new planting system consists of a plastic mesh bag of soil with a hanging-loop for a handle. Hang on a hook or nail. Slits in the sides of the bag make way for easy planting.

Another method uses plastic bags of potting soil. Simply cut slits for planting and lay the planted bags on the ground, on the patio or wherever they will get at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.

Strawberries grow best when set at the correct planting depth. Do not cover the crown area, and do not leave the tops or roots exposed. Spread the roots in a fan shape, and pack the soil firmly around them.

With proper care and a little luck with the weather, next spring you will have your own fresh berries.